Just a few days after health officials warned that people in Pittsburgh may have been exposed to measles, two residents in another part of Pennsylvania died of the disease, the first deaths from the disease in 2026. Neither individual was vaccinated against measles, according to the state's health department.
The deaths mark the first time anyone in Pennsylvania has died of the measles in more than three decades and came just a day after school started in Pittsburgh, with nearly 18,000 students returning to classrooms throughout the district.
Here's what to know.
Deaths mark first measles fatalities in Pennsylvania in 35 years
Until the two 2026 deaths, no one had died from measles in Pennsylvania in 35 years, the Pennsylvania Department of Health said in an Aug. 25 press release.
"My deepest sympathies are with
the loved ones who are facing this unimaginable loss," said Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. "Because measles was largely eliminated in the Commonwealth for more than three decades, people are not familiar with this disease and don’t fully understand the potential severity of the illness."
The deaths in Pennsylvania also mark the first time in 2026 that anyone has died from measles, which killed three people in 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health said both individuals who died of measles were from Lancaster County, but the department did not release any additional information about them such as their names, ages or genders.
PDH emphasized the effectiveness of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Two doses of the vaccines provides a lifetime immunity of 97% against measles, according to the CDC.
"We want to ensure every Pennsylvanian has the information they need to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities," said Bogen. "As a physician, I want to make sure that people understand that the MMR vaccine is safe and provides the best protection we have against measles."
How many measles cases are there in Pittsburgh?
Pennsylvania's measles dashboard showed no measles cases in Allegheny County as of Aug. 24.
An individual with measles who was not from Allegheny County visited Pittsburgh on Aug. 12 and Aug. 18 at UPMC Children's Hospital Emergency Department, according to a press release from county health officials. The individual was isolated as of Aug. 20, and officials were contacting anyone who had been exposed.
How many patients were exposed to Pittsburgh measles case?
Allegheny County Health Department didn't say how many people were exposed to the individual who visited Pittsburgh with measles.
Anyone who believes they were exposed and exhibits measles symptoms such as cough, runny nose, red/watery eyes, fever or rash should contact their healthcare provider and the Allegheny County Health Department at 412-578-8062. Residents throughout Pennsylvania can call the state department of health's hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH.
How many measles cases have there been in Pennsylvania?
As of Aug. 24, the last day Pennsylvania's dashboard was updated, there had been 393 measles cases in Pennsylvania in 2026. Most of these cases were in Lancaster County, which has reported 185 cases of measles this year.
In the last week, there were 86 new measles cases throughout Pennsylvania. Of those sickened, 70 people had been hospitalized, and 31% of cases were among children below the age of 18. No cases involved people who were fully vaccinated.
The two deaths were not yet reflected in the data on the state's dashboard.
Nationwide, there have been 2,777 confirmed cases of measles, according to the CDC. Of those, 94% were in unvaccinated people or people with an unknown vaccination status, while 3% occurred in people who had received one MMR dose. Another 3% had received both MMR doses.
Saman Shafiq contributed to this report.
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What Pennsylvania measles deaths means for Pittsburgh as school starts
